Gap year holidays: From backpacking to teaching English abroad

Last week, hundreds of thousands of students found out their A-level results. Sadly, many will not have achieved the necessary grades to win a place at university or college, and competition has been fierce - the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) says there has been a rise of more than ten per cent in applications for undergraduate courses compared with 2009.

This year is also challenging for those coming out of university. Economic conditions mean many graduates face a tough task finding a job.

All of this explains why gap-year breaks are booming. STA Travel, which specialises in arranging trips for students, says gap-year bookings for 18 to 24-year-olds have more than doubled this year.

For older 'gappers' taking a year out, perhaps after being made redundant, STA says bookings have risen by more than 250 per cent year-on-year.

Taking the plunge: A volunteer takes children canoeing on Lake Malawi in Africa

Travel options are far more diverse now than a few decades ago - many of my generation worked as au pairs or travelled across Europe on Inter-Rail. And if you do something constructive and relevant to any future work or studies, it can improve your CV or enhance your chances of securing a place at university.

Tom Griffiths, who is the founder of Gapyear.com - an excellent site covering all aspects of gap-year trips - stresses that travellers should plan their trip properly. 'Fixing up where to go and what to do should not be like booking a last-minute holiday to Majorca,' says Tom.

He also warns of the 'Bangkok Bounce' for some school-leavers. 'They arrive in Bangkok completely unprepared for how foreign it all is and freak out. Two days later, they're back at the airport ready to fly home.'

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Volunteering

Consider whether you are interested in solely carrying out voluntary work with an organisation such as VSO, or 'voluntourism' - combining work with a tourism experience in the country of your choice.

Either way, an excellent starting point is www.yearoutgroup.org. The Year Out Group promotes 38 UK-registered organisations that adhere to a strict code of practice in terms of finance, safety, security and quality, and offers first-rate advice on structured gap years.

Real Gap (01892 701890, www.real gap.com) and Gap Year for Grown Ups (01892 701881, www.gapyearfor grownups.co.uk) - both part of holiday giant Tui Travel - are leading providers of voluntourism breaks. Real Gap's top-selling programme is the Thailand Experience. This four-week trip includes sightseeing opportunities plus helping out with a community project and costs around £1,000, excluding flights.

Richard Oliver, the Year Out Group's chief executive, says: 'Ask probing questions before signing up to anything, and speak to people who have been on trips with the organisation. If the company can't or won't provide you with contacts, then walk away.'

He adds: 'To parents of 18-year-olds straight out of school: please take a greater, if discreet, involvement in what your offspring choose to do during their year out.'

Paid work

STA Travel (0800 988 7470, www.statravel.co.uk) reports a marked rise in demand for working-holiday visas to Australia and New Zealand this year (such visas are available to those aged 18 to 30). It also sells Aussie Working Holiday Starter Packages that include three-month membership to a job agency and help with matters such as setting up a bank account.

The Foreign Office-produced website www.gogapyear.com is packed with sensible advice. It points out that British citizens can work in any EU country, plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, without restriction.

Teaching English as a foreign language looks good on a CV and is one of the most lucrative ways of earning money abroad on a gap year, though you may need to obtain a teaching qualification first. Consider using i-to-i (www.i-to-i.com) for courses.

Off the beaten track: Backpacking is still the number one choice for many travellers

Seeing the world

Backpacking is still the number one option for many travellers. STA's website is a great starting point for round-the-world options, as is Flight Centre's www.roundtheworld experts.co.uk.

STA has some excellent discounted fares on flights for students and those under 26. These can be particularly enticing on round-the-world bookings. For example, earlier this month it was offering a ticket comprising a flight from Britain to Bangkok, overland to Singapore, a flight to Darwin, overland to Sydney, a flight to Auckland, on to San Francisco, overland to New York and a return flight to Britain for just £739 for students and under-26s. That's a third less than the fare for non-students and older travellers.

Also note that seeing Europe by rail is much cheaper for those under 26. A month-long InterRail Global Pass, valid for travel in 30 countries, costs £360 compared with £540 for those aged 26 to 59 (www.raileurope.co.uk).

Nuts and bolts

Travel insurance: You should never travel abroad without full travel insurance, and you would be crazy to do so if you're going to a far-flung destination and are roughing it. You need specialist cover for such a long trip, and one which also includes insurance for undertaking ' hazardous' activities.

This ensures that you are covered should you do wish to something such as whitewater rafting on a whim.

Health and safety: See your GP at least six weeks before departure to make sure you get the correct jabs, and check the Foreign Office website (www.fco.gov.uk) for its latest travel advice.

Keeping in touch: You can keep friends abreast of your adventures on social networking sites such as Facebook, or by email and text. The Foreign Office also offers a service called Locate, which enables local British Embassy staff to contact you more easily in an emergency - see the FO's website for details.

Money and discounts: You might want to consider using a commission-free pre-paid currency card for withdrawing money from cash machines or paying for items in shops and restaurants, instead of using a debit or credit card. The FairFX (www.fairfx.com) and CaxtonFX (www.caxtonfx.com) cards are among the best value.

Student identification is useful for concessions when travelling, so if you're eligible, it's worth investing £9 in an International Student Identity Card (www.isiccard.com). See www.gogapyear.com, www.gap advice.org and www.gapyear.com for more good practical advice.

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Gap year holidays: From volunteering and backpacking to teaching English abroad